November 9, 2004 -- KBA North America, a leading sheetfed offset press manufacturer based in Williston, Vt., is announcing that Challenge Printing, a premier Minnesota-based commercial sheetfed printer, purchased the first new Drupa-model Rapida 105 41-inch six-color sheetfed press with hybrid UV coating and drying from the show floor at Graph Expo 2004. The new press will be delivered immediately following the show. “We pride ourselves on being a printer that produces all of our jobs in-house resulting in greater quality control, reduced cycle times, and overall cost savings for our customers,” says Bob Lothenbach, Founder and President of Challenge Printing. “We have invested over $16.2 million in the last three years in capital equipment and we will be investing another $11 million in the next six to eight months. Our new KBA Rapida 105 41-inch sheetfed press is our second Rapida 105, and it joins our Rapida 162 seven-color 64-inch sheetfed press with aqueous coating and our soon-to-be-installed Rapida 205 81-inch six-color sheetfed press.” Challenge chose the new Rapida 105 after seeing it in action at drupa 2004 in May. “We were quite impressed with the new design of the press and its new technology,” says Lothenbach. “Our operators always tell us that the KBA machines are extremely user-friendly. Plus, we’ve found that it is very easy to work with KBA. That is why we chose to add another KBA press to our pressroom floor.” Challenge Printing plans on using the new Rapida 105 press in tandem with its existing Rapida 105 to help with capacity. “We’re excited to be gaining a press with UV hybrid capabilities,” says Lothenbach. “That is an area that is really growing for us.” “Challenge Printing has a long, successful reputation as a printer that provides custom solutions for unique challenges,” says Ralf Sammeck, President and CEO of KBA North America. “Challenge prides itself on finding answers, meeting deadlines, and exceeding its customers’ expectations. KBA is proud of its similar reputation as a press manufacturer. We’re excited that our presses will help Challenge Printing to continue building its customer base and differentiating itself within the market.”